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| Michel Rolland
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Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and
consultant to many of the world's most famous wineries, selected vineyards
within the Columbia Valley to produce a Merlot that exemplifies the complexity
and concentration of flavors for which his wines are internationally known.
Tasting Notes: Dark cherry and blackberry aromas compliment an
appealing hint of toasty oak in this dense, deeply concentrated Merlot. Rich at
entry, with added intensity on the mid-palate, the finish provides a lingering
impression of layered black fruit.
Vintage: Ideal growing conditions in 2005 produced expressive,
lush wines, and the 2005 Pedestal, a bold, deeply concentrated Merlot with ripe
tannins, reflects the quality of the vintage. Temperatures were warm throughout
July and August building sugars in the grapes, and then as if made to order,
the vintage slipped into an ideal ripening pattern. Vines carrying a moderate
crop load enjoyed warm daytime and cool nighttime temperatures throughout
September and October, ripening the grapes slowly and evenly, resulting in a
classic Columbia Valley vintage.
Winemaking: Hand harvested grapes were gently de-stemmed and
fermented to avoid harsh tannins and preserve fruit character, then moved to
French oak barrels for 22 months. Rolland carefully selected the coopers
calling for Merlot to age in Sylvain barrels for elegance and to help polish
the mid-palate; Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc rested in Taransaud and
Saury barrels to stand-up to the wines’ tannins and impart density and
richness. During blending, Rolland paid special attention to the mouth feel of
the wine with the intent of crafting a wine with great depth and suppleness.
Vineyards: Working with diverse vineyard sources, Rolland
selected Merlot from two warm sites – Candy Mountain and Weinbau Vineyard (50%)
– to give the wine bold, rich character. Conner Lee and Dionysus Vineyard (37%)
contributed bright cherry, dark berries and supple tannins. Horse Heaven Hills
Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) enhanced the wine's structure, and Cabernet Franc (7%)
contributed a pretty floral note and added elegance.
Alcohol: 14.7%
pH: 3.77
TA: 0.52 grams / 100ml
Blend:
80% Merlot
13% Cabernet Sauvignon
7% Cabernet Franc
Release date: February 2008
Production: 1,512 cases
SOLD OUT
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